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He trudged along unknowing what he sought, And whistled as he went, for want of thought.

John Dryden

A woman’s counsel brought us first to woe, And made her man his paradise forego, Where at heart’s ease he liv’d; and might have been As free from sorrow as he was from sin.
JOHN DRYDEN

Himself Man Paradise Sin Sorrow Woman
The conscience of a people is their power.
JOHN DRYDEN

Conscience People Power
None, none descends into himself, to find The secret imperfections of his mind: But every one is eagle-ey’d to see Another’s faults, and his deformity.
JOHN DRYDEN

Finding Himself Imperfection Mistake Secret
Railing and praising were his usual themes; and both showed his judgment in extremes. Either over violent or over civil, so everyone to him was either god or devil.
JOHN DRYDEN

Himself Judgement Praise Theme
Nor is the people’s judgment always true: the most may err as grossly as the few.
JOHN DRYDEN

Judgment People True
For secrets are edged tools, And must be kept from children and from fools.
JOHN DRYDEN

Children Edge Fools Secret Tools
Secret guilt is by silence revealed.
JOHN DRYDEN

Guilty Reveal Secret Silence
Shame on the body for breaking down while the spirit perseveres.
JOHN DRYDEN

Body Break Preservation Shame Spirit
Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are cherished in the mind. Anger will disappear just as soon as thoughts of resentment are forgotten.
JOHN DRYDEN

Anger Cherish Disappear Forget
Be slow to resolve, but quick in performance.
JOHN DRYDEN

Performance Quick Slow
For all the happiness mankind can gain Is not in pleasure, but in rest from pain.
JOHN DRYDEN

Happiness Kind Man Sadness
Reason to rule, mercy to forgive: The first is law, the last prerogative. Life is an adventure in forgiveness.
JOHN DRYDEN

Adventure First Forgiveness Reason Rule
To die for faction is a common evil, But to be hanged for nonsense is the devil.
JOHN DRYDEN

Common Death Devil Evil
For your ignorance is the mother of your devotion to me.
JOHN DRYDEN

Devotion Ignorance Mom Myself Yourself
But how can finite grasp Infinity?
JOHN DRYDEN

Finite Grasp Infinity
Trust reposed in noble natures obliges them the more.
JOHN DRYDEN

Nature Obligation Response Trust

He trudged along unknowing what he sought, And whistled as he went, for want of thought.

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He trudged along unknowing what he sought, And whistled as he went, for want of thought.

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